Hydraulic sole attaching machine



March 5, 1957 E, HAAs HYDRAULIC SOLE ATTCHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 3l, 1954 FM T612 INVENTOR. E064@ H445 rraAA/fy-s March 5, 1957 E. HAAS 2,783,486

HYDRAULIC SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 3l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma I- gl Zd?. f,

)77, .n -ff6 704 F75' a f/Ol; (4

f/g 6,0 1 FIG. 94

\ 76 INVENToR. 95 l l 506,41? H445 fraai/5%# 2,783,486 HYDRAULIC soLE ATTACHING MACHINE Edgar Haas, New York, N. Y., assignor to Herman `SYcllvlabe, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application March 31, 1954, Serial No. 419,989

11 claims. (ci. 12-36) Y a This invention relates to sole attaching machines, and more particularly to hydraulic sole attaching machines.

lt is common to attach shoe soles by means of an adhesive, and nowadays an adhesive which sets upon application of suicient pressure is used.l Some machines to apply such pressure have employed an inflatable ilexible bladder beneath each shoe, but the machine here involved is a cylinder and piston type machine or hydraulic press. Usually the cylinder is beneath, and the shoe is raised to a top support having adjustable heel and toe posts. The heel post bears against the top of the rear part or back cone of the last, while the toe post bears against the top of the forward portion of the shoe at the front cone rise. Pad boxes with molded rubber pads are used beneath the shoe, a variety of sizes and shapes being available for mens, womens and childrens shoes.

There are usually a plurality of work stations, most commonly two stations, handled by a single operator. Thus the operator can locate the sole accurately in position beneath the shoe and place it in the machine while the cement of the other shoe is setting under pressure. The valve arrangement is such that when the operator applies pressure to the new shoe, the previous shoe is released for removal. Presentday practice is. to use only two stations because of the fast setting adhesives employed.

The hydraulic pressure required is developed by a motor driven pump designed for a maximum of, say, one thousand pounds per square inch. Usually a relief valve is used to control the actual pressure. Because of 'the high pressure design the delivery rate from the pump is slow, and the shoe rises rather slowly to the toe and heel posts. For best practice the operator `should hold ythe shoe and sole lirmly in proper position until the posts are engaged, but most operators are impatient during this wait, and some may remove their hands from the shoe, and begin selecting and applying a sole'to another shoe, before the previous shoe has actually been clamped.

The situation is aggravated with high shoes, including Acln'ldrens shoes, because the operator'then should hold the shoe and sole upward against the toe and heel posts, instead of downward against the bottom pad, in order to make sure that the flexible upper does not turn in beneath the heel post (whereas it should surround the heel post). Thus the operator is not only impatient but also fatigued by holding the shoe and sole in elevated position during Vthe waiting time.

j 'The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing difliculty, and to provide a sole attaching machine which will provide a rapid rise of the shoe toV a position against the top posts. An ancillary object is to quickly free the hands of the operator to begin preparation of another shoe.

, As so far described it would be suicient forthe shoe to be' moved up against the posts, without the application of a really substantial clamping pressure. However, in -accordance with a further feature and object of'the pres ent invention the shoe is not only raised quickly but is er' 2,783,486 j Patented Malfa/5, 1.957

clamped with a real clamping pressure, starting at a small fraction and growing to a -larger fraction, say a third of the final clamping pressure. Then the tnal pressure is applied, and it appears that this process improves the shoe, perhaps because the initial reduced clamping pres` sure ar'fords some opportunity for self-adjustment of the relation between the sole and upper, as well as their relationto the pad and the posts. It is only thereafter that the maximum or final pressure is applied, as the continued action of the pump takes effect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for the purpose which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive, and which may be added to hydraulic sole attaching machines already in use.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other more I specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the shoe sole attaching machine elements, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of `a shoe sole attaching machine embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary partially sectioned elevation drawn to larger scale and showing the mechanism inside the base of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a schematic llow diagram explanatory of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a spring accumulator forming a major part of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic or simplified section through the control valve, with its slidable element in one end posin tion;

Fig. 6 is a similar section through the control valve, in opposite end position; and

Fig. 7 is a similar section through the control valve, in mid-position for simultaneous release of both stations.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the shoe sole attaching machine comprises a base 12 which acts also as a storage tank for hydraulic lluid, usually oil. This is sui-mounted by a frame 14 carrying adjustable supports or posts, in this case for two stations. 18for station A, and a similar toe post 22 and heel post 24 for station B. 2

Station A has a platen 26 raised or lowered by a piston rod or a plunger 2S. Platen 26 carries a pad box 30 containing a pad shaped to fit the bottom of the shoe, indicated at 32, it being understood that the shoe is on a last, and that the heel post 18 ,bears against the top of the rear cone of the last. The pad is usually molded rubber.

The valve action is controlled by a treadle 34 pivoted atv 36. When the left side of the treadle .is depressed asy adjusts a relief valve, which in turn controls 'themes-'- sure iapplied, and-the adjustmentmay be read on a suit-- able pressure gauge shown at 46. The pressure usedmay vary in diterent4 factories, depending on the adhesive, the nature of the shoe being made, and other factors.

hundred or foui hundred pounds per square inch.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, station A is controlled by cylinder S0,v and st'taion B by cylinder 52.1'Y

T hese are single-acting cylinders, the return being gravi?" tational. A ypiston and'piston rod may be used, Ior simple Thus there is a toe post 16 and a heel post Thus the actual pressure may be say, three assenso Overflow'holesreturn to the base any leakage past thepiston or ram.

Cylinder 50 is connected by pipe S4 to a port in a valve housing 56. Cylinder 52 is similarly connected by pipe 58 to another port in the valve housing. The movable valve element projects from the valve housing at 60, and is connected to an arm 62 mounted on a shaft 42,. which. corresponds to that shown at 42 in Fig. l, so that the treadle movement reciprocates the valve element 60. The reservoir of oil or other hydraulic fluid is'shown at 64, and oil leaving the valve 56 is discharged through pipe 66.

The pump is shown at 68, and itis convenient `to submerge the same as shown. Its intake line 70 is preferably connected to a filter 72. The pump is connected by pipe 74 to the valve, and also by pipe 76 to a pressure relief valve 78. This drains back to the reservoir by means of pipe Sti. The relief valve may be adjusted by means of a control applied at S2, and this in turn is connected to the knob 44 shown in Fig. l. Pump 68 is driven by means of an electric motor S4, which is preferably disposed above the oil reservoir as shown.

' As so far described the machine is conventional. ln accordance with the present improvement two main changes are made. One is the addition of a powerful resilient or spring-operated accumulator shown at 9i), the said accumulator being connected into the pump discharge and pressure relief line '74, 76, as shown by the pipe 92. The other is a change in the valve 56 so that the pump 68 operates against a closed valve when either r both stations are released. The pump is at no time connected to the storage reservoir for mere circulation of hydraulic fluid, except, of course, for bleeding at the relief valve 78. The pump operates under pressure at all times, thus keeping the accumulator 90 charged and ready for use.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the accumulator 90 comprises a cylinder 9dclosed at its lower end by a head 96 and carrying a piston 98. The piston is urged downward by a powerful compression spring 199. The cylinder is closed at its upper end by a head 102 which is open or vented. The head 102 preferably carries a re-entrant tube 104 which acts as a positive stop to limit the movement of the piston 98. This is in order not to crowd the spring to solid position. The connection to the pump discharge line is made at 106.

Referring now to schematic Fig. of the drawing, this shows the valve position when station A is clamped and station B is released, as in Figs. 1 and 2. Pump fluid enters at port 119 and is supplied to station A through port 112. Station B is released through port 114 communicating with exhaust port 116. The inlet port 110 is not connected to the exhaust port even momentarily during movement of the valve element 6d.

When the treadle is shifted from one position to the other the valve is changed from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6. The valve element 60 is moved from a lefthand position to a righthand position as viewed in the drawing. Thus station B is connected to the pump through inlet 110, and station A is connected to exhaust through port .116.

On occasion the operator may desire to release both stations, as, for example, when shutting` down, or when preparing for a change from one type of shoe to another, thus requiring a change of bottom pad, and-readjustment of the top posts. For this purpose the treadle may be stopped in mid-position, and a slight detent action preferably is provided to locate mid-position, although the de'tent action is not enough to interfere with normal rapid tilt of the treadle all the way from one side position to the other side position. In neutral position the valve is disposed as shown in Fig. 7, and it will be seen that both cylinders are connected to the exhaust port 116, but the pump is still blocked, and the pump pressureis maintained.

, operation of the machine may be described u fith reference to the schematic diagram of Fig. 3. Both stations are shown in, released position. However, the pump pressure is maintained because of the construction of the valve 56, as previously explained. Thus the piston 98 of the accumulator 90 has compressed the spring 100 as far as permitted by the stop N4. It will be evident that when the valve is shifted to apply pressure to either station, say station A, the accumulator piston 98 instantly descends, thus raising the platen yof station A or cylinder 50 to clamping position. The pump continues operating and again restores the accumulator piston 98 to raised position. When the piston 98 reaches its stop limit, the pump pressure is ladditionally applied to the clamp cylinder 50, and the pressure applied to the sole of the shoe builds up to the desired` maximum.

it will be understood that the accumulator 90 should have an effective volumetric capacity and an effective force at least sufficient to move the clamp piston from release to clamping position, thus promptly relieving the operator from further need to hold or position the shoe and sole assembly. For example, if the piston diameters were the same, the stroke of the accumulator would be at least somewhat greater and preferably much greater than the stroke of the station, but in practice it is more convenient to make the accumulator diameter larger than the clamp cylinder diameter, as here shown. ln the present case the piston area of the accumulator is about d-ouble that of the clamp cylinder. The hands of the operator are almost immediately freed for other work.

Moreover, the force of thel accumulator 90 is preferably made large enough to itself apply some preliminary clamp pressure. This is preferably a fraction of the final clamping pressure applied by the pump, although the proportion will differ depending on the nal pressure being used, that is, on the adjustment of the pressure relief valve 78.

ln the specific machine `here shown the spring is sixteen inches long and develops a force of three hundred pounds per inch of compression. lt is compressed one inch when confined in the cylinder, and is additionally compressed another' four and one-half inches by the pump pressure, thus developing a force of about sixteen hundred and fty pounds. The piston has a diameter of four inches, so that the pressure developed by the piston is approximately one hundred thirty-tive pounds per square inch maximum. If moved `halfway to yclamp the shoe, the pressure would be about seventy pounds per square inch at the instant of clamping, and would grow gradually to one hundred thirty-tive pounds per square inch as lthe accumulator piston is moved back to its stop limit. The pressure then becomes that of the pressure relief` valve. The adjustment of the pressure relief valve may vary, but in a typical case may be a matter of, say, three hundred fifty pounds per square inch. The pump is an internal gear pump capable of a maintained delivery pressure of one thousand pounds per square inch. The relief valve may be 4adjusted over a wide range of, say, one

Vhundred to one thousand pounds per square inch, al-

though a lower range would do. It will be understood that all foregoing quantitative dimensions and values have been given solely by wayof example, and are not intended to be in limitation of the invention.

The total time cycle is not intended to be different or faster'than previously, but the cycle is more usefully arranged; first, because the operators hands are freed during most of the cycle time, and, second, because the shoe is subjected to an initial clamp pressure during a considerable period of time, when previously it was subjected to no pressure at all during the same period of time.

A spring accumulator as here shown has an advantage over other accumulators, for example those using air on the opposite side ofthe piston, because there is inevitably at least some slight leakage, thus requiring frequent reartisans`vv accumulator is simply returned to the reservoir in which` it preferably is immersed.

It is believed that the construction and method of operation of my improved shoe sole attaching machine, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The improvement may be applied to existing hydraulic machines, as well -as to new machines, and for the former it is merely necessary to appropriately change the valve element, and to add the spring accumulator. 'Ihe improvement provides a rapid .rise of the shoe to clamp position, thus avoiding fatigue and impatience; insuring proper positioning of the shoe and -sole until they are clamped; and promptly relieving the hands of the operator to begin the selection and assembly of the next shoe and sole. The cementing is in two stages, the first stage under appreciable but fractional and growing pressure, and the second stage under greatly increased and desired maximum pressure. This transition takes place automatically without requiring any attention on the part of the operator.

It will be apparent that While I have shown and described. my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising a clamp cylinder and a clamp piston movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic tiuid, a pump, connections between the pump and cylinder and tank, a valve to control said connections, and a spring-operated accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and an effective spring force at least sufiicient to move the clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which grows to only a substantial fraction, say one-third of the nal clamp pressure applied by the pump, said valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to the clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

l 2. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising a clamp cylinder anda clamp piston movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping neutral position for simultaneous release of both, and a spring-operated accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring `and a piston, said valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

4. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic fluid,V a pump, connections between the pump and cylinders and tank, a valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved to lShoe clamping position but having a mid-position or neutral position for simultaneous release of both and a .spring-operated accumulator connected to they pump,

. said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a composition'for securing a sole to ashoe, a tank for hydraulic uid, a pump, a pressure relief valve associated with the pump for regulating the actual clamp pressure being used, connections between the pump and cylinder and tank, a valve to control said connections, and a spring-operated accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulator being submerged in the hydraulic lluid in said tank and comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and anveiective spring force at least sui-cientto move the clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which grows to only a substantial fraction, say onethir'd of the nal clamp pressure applied by the pump, said valve being so arranged that the pump 4is blocked when it is not connected to the clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

3. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic uid, a pump, connections between the pump and cylinders and tank, a valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved to shoe clamping position but having a mid-position or pression spring anda piston, said accumulator having an eiective volumetric capacity and an effective spring force at least suicient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, said valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

5. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic iluid, a pump, connections between the pump and cylinders and tank, a valve to control said connec tions, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved. to shoe clamping position but having a mid-position or neutnal position for simultaneous release of both, and a spring-operated accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, said accumulator havingan elective volumetric capacity and an eiiective spring Vforce at least suicient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pres-sure which is a substantial fraction, say one-third of the final clamp pressure applied by the pump said valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

6. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and 1 a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic fluid, a pump, a pressure relief valve associated with the pump forregulating the y'actual clamp pressure being used, connections between the pump and cylinders and tank, a valve "to control said connections', saidv valve` being soarranged that one piston ismoved to shoe release'position when the other is moved to shoel clamping position but having a mid-position or neutral position for simultaneous release of both, and a spring operated accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulatorcomprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and an eltective spring force at least sufficient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which is a substantial fraction, say one-third of the inal clamp pressure applied by the pump, said -valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

7. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two .clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic fluid, a pump of a type capable of working against a closed valve, a pressure relief valve associated with the pump for regulating the actual clamp pressure being used, connections between the pump andeylinders and tank, a treadle-operated valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved to shoe clamping position but having a neutral position for simultaneous release of both, and a spring-operated accumulator connected to the pump, said 'accumulator compri-Sing a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston with a positive stop to limit travel of the piston, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and an effective spring force at. least sufficient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which is a substantial fraction, say onethird of the final clamp pressure applied by the pump, said treadle-operated valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

8. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders. and clamp pist-ons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic uid, a pump, connections between the pump and cylinders and tank, a valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved to shoe clamping position but having a neutral position for simultaneous release of both, and an accumulator connected to the pump, said accumulator having means resiliently urged in opposition to the pump, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and an effective force at least sufficient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, said force preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which grows to a substantial fraction, say one-third of the final clamp pressure applied by the pump, said valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected toa clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

9. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising a clamp cylinder and a clamp piston movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic fluid forming the base of the machine, a high pressure pump located to be submerged in thefluid in said tank, connections between the pump and cylinder, a valve to control said connections, and a spring operated accumulator located to be submerged -in the uidrin said tank and connected to the pump and to an externally adjustable pressure relief valve, said accumulator, comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring anda piston, and

said control valve being so arranged that the pump is A blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder,

thereby placing the accumulator under compression pre paratory to the next sole attaching'operation.

10. A shoe sole attaching machine` comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole toa shoe, a tank for hydraulic uid forming the base of the machine, a high pressure pump located to be submerged in the fluid in said tank, connections between the pump and cylinders, a valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release position when the other is moved to shoe clamping -positionv but having a mid-position or neutral position for simultaneous release of both, and a spring operated accumulator located to be submerged in the fluid in said tank and connected to the pump and to an externally adjustable pressure relief valve, said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, and said control valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinder, thereby placing the accumulator under compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

11. A shoe sole attaching machine comprising two clamp cylinders and clamp pistons each movable between a release position for loading or removal of a shoe and a clamping position for securing a sole to a shoe, a tank for hydraulic fluid forming the base of the machine, a high pressure pump located to be submerged in the fluid in said tank, connections between the pump and cylinders, a valve to control said connections, said valve being so arranged that one piston is moved to shoe release posi tion when the other is. moved to shoe clamping position but having a midposition or neutral position for simula taneous release of both, and a spring operated accumulator located to be submerged in the fluid in said tank and connected to the pump and to an externally adjustable pressure relief valve, said accumulator comprising a cylinder housing a compression spring and a piston, said accumulator having an effective volumetric capacity and an effective spring force at least sufhcient to move a clamp piston from release to clamping position, the force of said spring preferably being enough to apply a clamp pressure which is a substantial fraction, say one-third of the final clamp pressure applied by the pump,` and said control valve being so arranged that the pump is blocked when it is not connected to a clamp cylinderL thereby placing the accumulator underl compression preparatory to the next sole attaching operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 123,169 Grimshaw Jan. 30, 1872 202,660 Maguire c Apr. 23, '1878 651,334 Baker et al. June 12, 1900 1,861,154 Dorman May 31, 1932 1,952,916 Etten Mar. 27, 1934 2,459,845 Seely et al Jan. 2 5, 1949 2,531,511 Hill ,.--Now 2.8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,728 Great Britain of :1896 385,131 Great Britain Dec. 22k, 1932 

